Longleat Safari and Adventure Park

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park stands in Wiltshire on the grounds of Longleat House, the home of the 8th Marquess of Bath. Opened in 1966, it was the world’s first drive-through safari park outside Africa. The park includes a Safari Park, a miniature railway, and the stately home itself. Jimmy Chipperfield, a former circus co-director, created the safari concept. Four documentaries have featured the park, including a 1967 BBC film and a long-running series that began in 2000. The Safari Park holds an East African Reserve with Rothschild’s giraffes, zebras, and other species across 60 acres. A Jungle Cruise takes visitors past an island that once housed the oldest gorilla in Europe. The Monkey Temple, opened in 2012, lets guests walk rope bridges to meet marmosets and tamarins. Koala Creek, added in 2019, is the only place in England where southern koalas can be seen. The Animal Adventure area and Giant Otter and Crocodile Reserve also draw visitors. The Longleat Railway runs for 2 kilometres through woodland and beside Half Mile Lake. Built in 1965 and expanded in 1976, it carries visitors on miniature steam or diesel trains. The railway once ran under outside management before Longleat took it over. Themed stations and carriages have changed over the years, keeping the journey fresh. The park’s mix of animals, rides, and historic house offers a full day’s exploration.